Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-02-18
CLEVELAND'S LAST VETO
He Returns fhe Drouth Relief Seed
Bill to tho House Wi;hcnt His
Approval Thereto.
II Senators and Representatives Wish to
aid the Texas Farmers They Can
Do so Readily.
VETOETs


WASHINGTON, Feb. To- The Presiden
has vetoed the bill approprlsting $4,000
for the distribution of SEEDS to the droutt
/ stricken counties of Texas.
WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAYS.
! WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-The following
/ is the message of the President vetOine
/ the bill for the distribution OF seeds in
! Texas
| To the House ct Representatives:
/ return without my approval House
/ bill No. 70, 203 entitled "An act ta enable
the Commissioner of Agriculture to make
special distribution of seeds in the
drouth stricken counties .!of. Texas
and making an appropriation therefor"
! 1t is represented that long, continued
/ and extensive drouth has existed. il GER
tain portions Of the state of Texas;tsssst-
ing in the failure OF crops and consequent
! distress and restitution. Though there
| has been some difference IN the state
ments concerning the extent of the pee
| pies needs in the localities thus affected,
| there seems to be no doubt that there has
existed condition calling for relief, and
am willing to believe that notwithstSnd-
ing the aid already furnished, the dona-
ton OF seed grain to the farmers located
IN this region to enable them to
put in new crops would serve to avert
| 3 continuance of an unfortunate
blight, and yet feel obliged to withhold
my approval of the plan proposed by this
bill TO indulge benevolent and
charitable sentiment through thss APP
prOpr alton of public tends
for that purpose. can find
no warrant for such an appropriation in
| the constitution, and do not believe the
power and duty of the general govern
ment ought to be extended to the relief
OF individual suffering which is in no
manner relatei to the public service or
benefit.
The prevalent tendency to disregard
the limited mission CT this power and
duty should, l think. be steadfastly re-
sisted to the end; that the lesson should
be constantly enforced; that the people
should support the government, and the
government should mot support
the people. The frienAiEsss Of
the charity of our country can atwars be
relied upon to relieve their fellow citizens
IN misfortune. This has been repeat
eddy and quite lately demonstrated.
Federal aid in such cases en-
cOurages the expectation of pa:ernal
care on the part of the government and
weakens the sturdiness of our national
character, while it prevents The induI-
gence among our people OF that.
kindly sentiment and conduct
which strengthens the bonds OF
common brotherhood. 1t IS within my
personal knowledge that individual
aid has to some extent already bean eSs
tended to the sufferers mentioned
in this bill. The failure Of
the proposed appropriation o. 3{G, 900
additional to meet their SreHiainiVg
wants will not necessarily result In con-
tinued distress if the emergency is made
known to the people of the country, ard,
it is here suggested. The Gommis4
SioGer Of Agriculture is annually
directed to eXpend large sum of
money for the purpose of pTopsgasion
and distribution eff seeds, ard other
things of this description, two thirds
o2 which are upon the request of Sen
atOrs, Representatives and Delegates in
Congress, supplied to them for distribution
among their constituents. The appTo-
prlGtiOH of the current year tor this pur-
pose is 100000, and it will probably be
no less in the appropriation for the ensu-
Ing year. | understand that Large qUan-
tity of the grain has been furnished for
such distribution, and it is supposed that
this free apportionment among their
neighbors is privilege which was waived
by our Senators and Representatives
Il sufficient of them should request
the Commissioner of Agriculture to
send their shares of grain thus allowed
them to the suffering farmers of Texas
they might be enabled to SOW their crops.
The constituents for whom in theory this
grain IS intended could well bear tenn
pOrary deprivation aud the donors woalf
experience the satisfaction of the attend
ing deeds of charity.
Signed GROVER CLEvELAN2.
Washington, D. c., Feo. lG.